Chael Sonnen has his eyes on a potential showdown between UFC light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira and interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, and he’s intrigued by Pereira’s chances. Pereira (12-2 MMA, 9-1 UFC) recently defended his title for the third time at UFC 307 by stopping Khalil Rountree in the fourth round. Though he’s committed to staying at 205 pounds for now, Pereira has teased a future move up to heavyweight.
Pereira even posted a picture of Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) watching his fight, fueling speculation about a potential clash between the two champions. Sonnen, known for his sharp takes on potential matchups, seems captivated by the idea.
While Aspinall’s grappling could present serious challenges, Sonnen isn’t convinced it’s a guaranteed path to victory for the British heavyweight.
“I’m not sure Tom would win,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “There’s something special about Alex. I don’t think Tom can easily take him down, so that might be off the table.”
Sonnen acknowledges that if Pereira does get taken down, it could be a problem due to Aspinall’s size. However, he also believes Aspinall might get caught up in a striking battle, which could be risky against a dangerous striker like Pereira.
Aspinall is currently waiting to see what happens between heavyweight champ Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 on Nov. 16. With rumors swirling that Jones may retire after that fight, Aspinall’s next move in the division remains uncertain, but a potential matchup with Pereira could be an exciting future possibility.
Subscribe
